PSN

Intel's new P3 processor contains a processor serial number that is unique to that chip.

The processor, which has been specially designed for e-business, includes Intel's Internet Streaming SIMD Extensions, a host of instructions that enhance the performance of streaming media and memory intensive applications, and a new selectable processor serial number feature.

Intel originally had a feature known as PSN (Processor Serial Number) which would uniquely identify a processor.

Intel Corp is facing another complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, this time from the Center for Democracy and Technology and the Privacy Rights Clearing House, over the Pentium III's processor serial number feature.

Most analysts consider the Pentium III not as a full next-generation architecture, but as a Pentium II with additional 3D graphics instructions, currently mostly of interest to games developers, and the processor serial number security feature, which is currently causing Intel all sorts of trouble (see separate story).

The diplomatic skills of Scott McNealy, the chief executive of computer giant Sun Microsystems, swing into action as he responds to concerns over privacy raised by the use of Processor Serial Numbers (PSNs) in computer chips.

Learning from Intel Corp's problems with its processor serial numbers earlier this year, IBM has gone to privacy advocate groups to check out its strategy, and says it has satisfied the groups by making personalization and trust relationships user controlled.